Solid lubricant, solid lubricant application apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A solid lubricant to be applied onto an image carrier of an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system, includes a metal soap and resin particles, and the resin particles have a particle main body constituted by a rigid resin other than fluorine-based resins, and fluorine atoms carried on the surface of the particle main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solid lubricant to be applied onto an image carrier of an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system,
 wherein the solid lubricant comprises a metal soap and resin particles, 
 the resin particles have a particle main body constituted by a rigid resin other than fluorine-based resins, and fluorine atoms carried on the surface of the particle main body, and 
 the abundance ratio of the fluorine on the resin particles is 5 to 60 atom %. 
 
     
     
       2. The solid lubricant according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin particles have a volume average particle size of 30 to 300 nm. 
     
     
       3. The solid lubricant according to  claim 1 , wherein the rigid resin is one or more resins selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins and styrene resins. 
     
     
       4. The solid lubricant according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal soap is zinc stearate. 
     
     
       5. A solid lubricant application apparatus for applying a solid lubricant onto a surface of an image carrier in an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system, wherein the solid lubricant application apparatus comprises:
 an application member having elasticity, which is abuttably disposed on the surface of the image carrier, 
 a bias member for biasing a solid lubricant toward the application member to allow the solid lubricant to abut on the application member, and 
 a solid lubricant, 
 wherein the solid lubricant is the solid lubricant according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       6. An image forming apparatus of electrophotographic system comprising:
 an image carrier; 
 a cleaning apparatus for allowing an elastic member to abut on the surface of the image carrier to remove a transfer residual toner on the surface; and 
 a solid lubricant application apparatus for applying a solid lubricant onto the surface of the image carrier, 
 wherein the solid lubricant application apparatus is the solid lubricant application apparatus according to  claim 5 .